How God has Ordained Events to where I am now

The other day I was talking to Meagan Rimshaw. And yes, I did hack into her Blogger profile and created her a blog, then honored myself through it. I have to admit, it was fun. Anyway, this conversation was not about that. We were talking about God's sovereignty and how he has ordained certain events to lead us in His Will. We talked about the fact that until the spring of '05 I didn't even know what Video Production was. Now, I am fully immersed in the world of Video Production. So, after we both went our separate ways, I went to my truck and wrote down all the events I could think of that lead to me being where I am now. I thought I would share that list with you today. Here it is:

How God has ordained events to where I am now



● first started w/ the idea of Aerospace Engineering

● wanted to get degree from either UT or University of Central Florida (where my mom went to school)

● wanted to work in the space industry in Cape Canaveral: Titusville, Florida. where my dad and grandfather worked. Also where my mom grew up.

● then started to hate math

● first video: honoring Joel Baker on PowerPoint (the grace of God was evident even on PowerPoint)

● second video: helping out with Relay Retreat 2003 video first on Windows Movie Maker, then on iMovie

● dropped Engineering idea

● looking for other career/ major idea

● Decide on not leaving Knoxville because of Cornerstone Church

● started running CD duplicator at Cornerstone in Dec. 2003

● bought my first camcorder in spring 2004

● went to Celebration 2004 w/ Brad & Joe to help w/ sound set-up

● started becoming interested in audio as career

● still making videos w/ Relay, don't see it as a career yet

● started taking classes @ Pellissippi in Fall 2004 as a Senior in High School

● Have interest in both creative and technical aspects of art

● looked into Journalism (emphasis on radio)

● took a tour of WNOX w/ John Crooks

● interested in audio, but there were no technical majors in Knoxville

● started taking classes in Spring @ Pellissippi

● looked into Video Production Technology @ Pellissippi because it had a lot of audio classes in it. (only option to do audio because I wanted to stay in Knoxville with Cornerstone)

● took Intro to Desktop Audio/Video class and loved it

● met Cap Stewart and got more interested in video

● still helping out w/ Relay videos

● bought my Powerbook in spring of 2005 through my grandparents inheritance. I don’t think I would have been as interested in video production without it. What a gift from God.

● Plew asks me to do Mission Fund video. First Cornerstone video done alone

● made an A in Intro to Desktop Audio/Video

● started liking video more than audio

● started Video Production Technology full-time in Fall 2005!

After all of these evidences of God's grace, how can I not trust Him w/ the future?

Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes

Change and maturity come very slowly and subtly. I have found that out the past year. This past year has been an encouraging year of growing in the Lord and growing in maturity. I think the turning point for me was graduation. At my graduation we had a mic where people (either the student or the parents) could say something about either the student or parents. I surprised everyone after getting my diploma by going to the mic and honoring my parents. Now, that may just sound like a thing anybody would do, but this was something different for me. You see, I had planned up to that day to go to the mic and make a fool of myself, which would have been the normal thing for me. Instead, something inside me told me that was foolish and I shouldn't do it.
Since then, I have grown extremely. All thanks has to be to God because I could have never done it by myself. It's all His Grace that we grow at all. I have had a couple people comment on my new found maturity and growth over the past few months. It has been encouraging to see God at work in my life.
I am reminded of the David Crowder song, "Wholly Yours":
"I am full of earth. You are heaven's worth. I am stained with dirt, prone to depravity... But a certain sign of grace is this: From the broken earth flowers come up pushing through the dirt."
I have faith that the next year will be no different. I still have a lot of room to grow! So, thanks be to God for maturing me into the man he wants me to be! Ok, enough about myself.

John Mason

I'm gonna take a break from my usual traditional method of honoring to try something new. Well, it's not really that new. I'm gonna continue with my Poety for The Pink House section of the blog. Next Pinky: John Mason

John Mason is really cool
Even When he plays pool
He can be kinda nice
With all that hair he must have lice
John Mason can me really mean
At least he keeps it clean

I'm back.
This weekend has been an amazing weekend! I got to see God work in many ways throughout this weekend. On Saturday, we had the VFC Valentine's Party! This night was done by the guys all for the girls. We started getting there about 4 o'clock to start preparing. It was awesome, every guy was serving. We had a crew of guys making the food (Spaghetti and Fettuccini Alfredo), we had a crew setting stuff up, a crew performing musical stuff, a crew doing a skit, a crew waiting on tables, a crew greeting, a crew parking cars (probably not a good idea), and so on and so on. It was awesome just to see the heart all us guys have for our sisters.
Thanks to any girls reading this (and those that aren't). You all are a gift from God. Seriously, we don't just say that because it's that time of year again. We admire your Godliness. We respect your humility in serving and your desire to grow in Godliness. I think it's amazing to see girls that won't let anything come between them and serving and loving the Lord. I am amazed at God's work in your lives. God has really been faithful to give us amazing, Godly, and humble sisters. Be encouraged! God is working in your lives. We see it all the time!
Guys, feel free to add to this via comments.

Honoring Session #1

Blogs are for honoring. I am now convinced of that. Examples: Joanna honoring CJ Mahaney, Kevin's honoring of Jill, Jenn, Craig, and Adam (kinda), Leslie honoring Laura, Leslie honoring herself through Cap's blog, Jill honoring someone every other post, and so on and so on.
After thinking about that I am convinced that I need to honor someone. Actually, I'll make it a habit. First subject: Morgan Mitchell



Name: Morgan Levi Mitchell

Born: 4/7/1987

School: Pellissippi (and later Belmont)

Major: Audio Engineering

Interests: playing guitar (he's really good), writing music, working on his Toyota Supra, and hanging out with his friends

Close friends: Andrew Goodman, Pierce LaMacchia, Stephen Brickey, Jared Graap, Joel Baker, and me, Matthew Reynolds

Why he's my best friend: Morgan is very interesting. He shares a common love with music. He is probably one of the best guitarists I have ever seen. He's fun to hang out with. These things are great, but this is what I love about Morgan: He has a love for his mom, his church, and his God. Him and his mom trust God with every molecule in their bodies. You see, I have somewhat of an insight on Morgan Mitchell. 2 years ago his dad died in a car wreck. My family was one of the first people to know about it. We ended up spending the entire weekend with the Mitchells.
After that, we have seen God work in that family. While most people would be angry with God and worrying about the future, the Mitchells trusted God with everything. I have never ever seen anyone who has trusted a faithful God this much after a trial like this. GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL! One of Mrs. Mitchell's favorite songs is "He's Always Been Faithful to Me" by Sara Groves. Here's the lyrics:

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God's hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me.

I can't remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can't remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful, He's always been faithful
He's always been faithful to me.

Whenever I hear that song I think of the Mitchells. I think of God's faithfulness throughout the past 2 years. Last week, a couple friends of the Mitchells came over to their house to be with them on the anniversary of Mr. Mitchell's death. It was a joyful evening! The reason for this is not because we all didn't care about his death, nor did anyone forget him. The reason is because we rejoiced with the Mitchells over God's overflowing grace. We knew that He is Faithful! He is Sovereign!

I'm posting again

I think I may post again. ... Yeah, I'm gonna post again. Well... what has been going on in my world? ... ... ... (I'm still thinking).
Oh yeah! Yesterday was my birthday. People are asking me how my birthday went. Well, there's not much to say. I woke up, went to class, went to work, my friends at work gave me a brownie with a candle in it. Then I went home, went to sleep.
Anyway, this year I have decided to change my birthday to Feb. 7th. Today was such a better day than yesterday. I woke up, had a piece of cookie pie for breakfast, went to class, my 2nd class got out early. Then I went to the cafeteria to have lunch. I ate lunch with Meagan Rimshaw, Travis Evans, and Sarah Duncan. (Morgan Mitchell also came down for a few minutes) I found out through a personality test that I use mostly the right side of my brain. And I found out that I am a circle, yippi! After I left Pellissippi, I went home and played Need for Speed Underground 2. That was fun. I then ate dinner with the coolest parents in the world at Mellow Mushroom. I then went to VFC bible study, then to home. I am now writing this blog.
Anyway, I guess the only people that read my blog were in the story, so there's no reason for me to post this. Just kidding!
Matthew

ATTENTION!!!

Attention Matthew Reynolds' Blog readers:

I am sending my Powerbook into Apple to get my speakers repaired. This means I will still be able to update my blog, but I will not be able to post any more media (music, audio clips, movies, etc) for 2 weeks.
In other news, VFC Freshman: A Tale of Confusion going high-tech. My blog is now available as a podcast. For those of you who don't know what a podcast is, talk to me. For those of you who do know what a podcast is, it is now available on iTunes. If you go to iTunes and search vfc (as in VFC Freshman: A Tale of Confusion) it will come up. This will only give you the audio and video I post on my blog. This also take up to a day to update to iTunes. Meaning: if I post something on Mon., it may be up Tues. night.

Bye

My Beautiful Song

My Beautiful Song

Funky Groove 3

Funky Groove 3

Funky Groove 2

Funky Groove 2